Fire closes North West child centre

A child centre in Mahikeng, North West, was closed following fires that destroyed three blocks, the provincial social development department said on Monday.

“At this stage we cannot ascertain the cause of the fires. We call on speedy forensic investigations so that the operation of the centre is brought to normal,” said MEC Fenny Gaolaolwe.

“The structure has been damaged. Beds, school uniforms, clothes, books, some mattresses, the ceiling, windows and water pipes were destroyed by mysterious fires. With God’s help no children or staff members were hurt during the three incidents.”

She said 74 children from the Boikagong Child and Youth Care Centre were moved to places of safety.

One block was partly burnt down on Wednesday, and two adjacent blocks caught fire on Sunday.

Sixteen babies and children, from birth to six-years-old, were moved to a place of safety while the other 58 school-going children were moved to another place of safety.

Spokesman Petrus Siko said the other places of safety could not be named for security reasons.

Transport had been arranged to ferry children to various schools around Mahikeng so that they did not miss their lessons.